Navratri Legends: Chaitra Navaratri, Ganesh Navaratri, and Dussehra

Navratri is a festival celebrated for nine nights/days. There are two or more types of Navratris that are observed by Hindus.

While Navaratri celebrations are held from the first day of a fortnight to the ninth day in most of the cases, Ganesha Navaratri starts with the Ganesha idol sthapana on a Chaturthi day and is held for the next nine days.

There are two types of Navaratri celebrations: 

Public Celebrations of Navaratri

Public celebrations involve the erection of pandals and massive participation by devotees. Each colony has its own Pandal and celebration.

Donations are collected by the organisers by going around houses in their colonies. These collections are utilised in the erection of the pandal, procurement of idols, and distribution of prasadams. Some devotees may contribute cooked prasadam (for naivedyam and distribution) instead of cash donations.

The public celebrations are as follows:

• Chaitra Navaratri celebrates the spring season and Sri Rama's Birthday.
• Ganesha Navaratri celebrates the worship of Ganesha in his nine forms and the Ganesh Chaturthi Story.
• Sharad (Aswin) Navaratri celebrates the nine forms of Goddess Durga and her glories.

Gupta Navaratri (Private Celebrations)

Gupta Navaratri observances are kept by people seeking tantric and secret/magical powers.

These observances involve meditation and worship performed in secluded places like caves and deserted homes. The observer worships Shakti as a form of nature. It involves strict and stern practices.

The popular seasons for Gupta Navaratri are as follows:

• Ashadha Navaratri is performed during the Ashadha month, which falls during July/August.
• Magha Navaratri is observed during the Magha month, which falls during January/February.

These observances can be harmful at times if not done perfectly.

Now, let us look at the real Navaratri festivals that are publicly celebrated by all Hindus.

Chaitra Navaratri and Rama Navami

Chaitra Navaratri starts on Chaitra Shukla Padyami and culminates with Rama Navami.

• The first day is celebrated as New Year's Day in Telugu states, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. They celebrate this occasion as a major festival, wearing new clothes and preparing special dishes. They decorate their houses after a thorough cleaning in the early morning. Worship is done with prayers and bhajans. Thereafter, the special dishes are offered to God as Naivedyam. It is distributed among family members and friends. The whole day is spent with fun and enjoyment. Most people visit the temples in the evenings to obtain God's blessings for the new year.
• In the Northern States of India, it is celebrated as a Navaratri Jagran. They celebrate the first day as Navroj. They set up a sacred pot in the puja sthal and worship it on the first day. They fast for nine days, worship the nine forms of Durga, and break their fast at the culmination.
• South Indian temples host music festivals throughout the nine days of Navaratri. People throng temples to listen to the performances of those great musicians. Bhadrachalam Temple attracts most devotees and visitors during this Navaratri period. On Rama Navami, the temple management performs the Sita-Rama kalyanam on a large scale. Most kirtans are centered around Rama's praise and devotion. The musicians, both vocal and instrumental, present sweet melodies from the works of Tyagaraja, Muthuswamy Dikshitar, and other renowned composers.
• The ninth day is celebrated as Rama Navami, the birthday of Rama, in all states of India. 

Popular Recipes During Chaitra Navaratri

The Telugu people start their first day of the New Year with a special dish containing the six tastes of life, Ugadi Pachadi. It is made up of tamarind pulp, raw mango, neem flowers, jaggery, green chili, and salt. Only after that, other food items are consumed. 

On Rama Navami, they prepare Vadapappu (soaked moong dal) and Panakam (jaggery water). These items are offered to God, similar to Ugadi Pachadi, as naivedyams, before consuming.

The Kashmiris prepare a sacred plate containing raw rice, cooked rice, a mirror, a gold coin, a pen, a book, and flowers. They look at this plate in the early morning. It serves as a welcome to prosperity, knowledge, and good luck in their lives.

The North Indians (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, etc.) observe a strict fast on these nine days. So, their focus is only on meditation and satvik food (singhada and saabudana).

Ganesha Puja/ Navaratri

The term "Ganesh Navaratri" is not as popular as other Navaratris, as it is not celebrated as a fasting ritual.

Most devotees think that the term Navaratri applies only to the fasting nine nights.

But Ganesh Chaturthi is also part of the Navaratri celebrations, as it is observed for nine days and nights after the sthapana is performed.

Ganesha Puja pandals are erected all over the country, even in remote corners.

Each colony celebrates it in its unique style, collecting donations from the households. They erect a pandal, procure the idol, and organise the celebrations based on their budgets. 

The first day, which is Bhadrapada Chaturthi, is completely devoted to the idol sthapana rituals. Prasad distribution is done after the installation worship is over. The next nine days consist of morning and evening pujas, cultural performances, and prasad distribution. On the tenth day, which is Chaturdashi, the Ganesha visarjan ceremony is held. After performing the morning puja, the idol is taken in a procession throughout the lanes of the colony and immersed in a pond or lake, with chants of "Ganapati Bappa moriya, ab ki baras tu jaldi aa".

Ganesha Worship in Nine Forms

Similar to the nine forms of Goddess Durga, Ganesha too has nine forms. Each day, one distinct form is worshipped. The nine forms are as follows:

1. Bala Ganapati (the innocent child form)
2. Taruna Ganapati (the youthful vital form)
3. Bhakti Ganapati (the embodiment of meditation and devotion)
4. Veera Ganapati (the warrior form)
5. Shakti Ganapati (the powerful cosmic energy)
6. Dvija Ganapati (the twice-born, enlightened Ganapati wearing the sacred thread, holding the veena, a book, and kamandala)
7. Siddhi Ganapati (the provider of intellectual and spiritual accomplishments)
8. Ucchista Ganapati (a tantric form)
9. Vighna Ganapati (the destroyer and remover of all evil forces and obstacles in life)

Popular Recipes for Ganesha Chaturthi

Telugu people cook "Undrallu," a steamed round-shaped recipe cooked with rice flour ( rough flour). It gets cooked in two varieties: a savory one (with grated coconut and salt) and a sweet one ( with coconut and jaggery).

Maharashtrians prepare the same thing, and it is known as Ukadiche Modak. They prepare Puran Poli also.

People in Tamil Nadu prepare Kozhukattai, the equivalent of the above modaks in both varieties.

Karnataka people cook a folded dumpling (resembling gujiyaa), Kadubu, and another recipe known as Panchakajjiya ( an uncooked mix of gram flour, coconut, and jaggery).

Rajasthan and Gujarat prepare crunchy Churma Ladoos (coarsely ground wheat flour mixed with melted jaggery).

Durga Navaratri/ Sharad Navaratri and Dussehra

Sharad Navaratri is the celebration of Goddess Durga's glorious acts through her nine forms. This festival is also known as Sharad Navaratri and Maha Navaratri.

Sharad is the name of a season equivalent to Autumn. The celebrations are held in the first nine days of the Autumn season.

Durga is the personification of the Supreme Universal Energy. She is known as Aadi Shakti and Mahashakti.

How Do They Celebrate Navaratri/Dussehra

Durga Puja celebrations are popular throughout India and even in foreign countries (wherever Indians live). So, I am not dealing with pandal celebration details. Instead, I want to share the regional variations in how this festival is celebrated.

Northern India:

• In states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Himachal, Ramlila performances are held. The performers enact scenes from the Ramayan centered around the abridged story. They are held in public places or in colony areas where masses can freely enter and enjoy the shows.
• On the final day (the 10th day, known as the Dussehra Holiday), effigies of the demons Ravana, Kumbhkarna, and Meghnath are erected and burnt to ashes.
• Many devotees may keep a fast during the nine days, worshipping Goddess Durga. On the ninth day, a Kanya Pujan is performed by inviting young girls. These girls are treated as the personification of the Goddess. So, they are offered aarati and food (and some gifts).

Western India:

• Gujarat and Maharashtra celebrate the Ganesh Festival with Garba and Dandiya dances. They light an earthen oil lamp in the evenings, may place an idol of Shakti, and dance around it.
• They install a clay pot sown with barley seeds and water it daily during this Navaratri season. The seeds sprout into beautifully green plants. The health of these plants indicates the luck of the devotees during that year. They treat these sprouted seeds with great respect, equal to that of the divine.
• On the day of immersion of the idol, these sprouted plants are also immersed in the waters with reverence. They may keep a leaf or twig of it as a symbol of luck in their wardrobes or books.

Eastern India:

• In Bengal, Odisha, and other north-eastern states, the Navaratri celebrations are most colourful and vibrant.
• Durga Puja pandals present beautifully crafted clay idols of Durga slaying the demon in her Shakti avatar. Other idols of Lakshmi and Saraswati may also be there.
• Devotees dance frenetically to the rhythms of a drum (known as Dhak), holding clay pots lit with incense.
• On the final day, married ladies smear sindhoor on the Goddess and the faces of the other women.

Southern India:

• Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu celebrate Sharad Navaratri in distinct ways.
• The house holds display a Bommala Koluvu (Bommai Golu) throughout these nine days. Scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other folklore are set up on a decorated floor (a hall or room). The scenes are designed in multiple sections and layers using soil, sand, pebbles, flowers, green foliage, etc.
• Devotees perform puja in the evenings and invite ladies to participate in the celebrations. A naivedyam consisting of soaked chana (chickpeas) is prepared and offered to God along with fruits and other offerings. Thereafter, the naivedyam is distributed along with kumkuma, haldi, and fruits. They may also gift bangles and blouse pieces. They celebrate it turn-by-turn in each neighbor's home.
• Another distinct ritual is the worship of tools and equipment on the ninth day of the celebrations. They clean their vehicles and equipment, decorate them with flower garlands, and worship them on this Ayudha Puja day. It is the day just before the Dussehra festival. 
• In Mysore, Ram Lila celebrations are done each year on a large scale. The Mysore Maharaja attends and presides over these celebrations.
• A world-famous procession of lavishly dressed and decorated elephants walks through the streets of Mysore, carrying the palanquin of Goddess Chamundeshwari. The procession culminates with a grand lighting up at the Palace of Mysore. The Maharaja is renowned for his charitable contributions during these celebrations.